Published: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 11:42 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 11:42 a.m.

A retired law enforcement trainer who has been working as a cold case homicide investigator for the last year is the new sheriff of Tuscaloosa County.

Billy Sharp was appointed to serve the remaining two years of Ted Sexton's term. Sexton began work Monday as director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office.

Sharp, 79, is a life deacon at First Baptist Church, where the governor is an active member. He worked with Bentley's security detail during the 2011 campaign.

Bentley will continue to consider other candidates for the job, but Sharp could serve until the public elects a new sheriff in fall 2014.

“He is serving at the pleasure of the governor, he may well hold the position for the rest of the term,” said Jeremy King, Bentley's communications director. “The governor is taking the time that's needed now to review candidates and will move forward from there.”

“Billy Sharp has a tremendous amount of experience in the field of law enforcement,” Bentley stated in the release. “Because of that, he has the respect of his colleagues, from cadets to veteran officers. Having been an investigator, field agent and eventually a volunteer instructor, Sharp's background in law enforcement will be a great asset to the people of Tuscaloosa County.”

Sharp replaces Sexton, who was first elected in 1990 and announced his departure earlier this month.

He is a familiar face at the Sheriff's Office. Sharp has investigated cold cases with the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit since his retirement from the Alabama Criminal Justice Center in February 2012. He worked as an investigator, a chief investigator and field agent during his 28 years there.

He was a volunteer instructor with the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission for 33 years and trained just about every law enforcement officer who serves in this area. He served in the infantry and Military Police Corps of the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Working with the state's Criminal Justice Center, Sharp was in charge of the FBI's National Crime Information Center system and state databases, traveling to other counties and helping law enforcement agents who needed access to the databases containing investigative information, such as names of fugitives and stolen property.

Sharp was popular with the law enforcement trainees and emphasized the importance of physical fitness during the courses he taught. He told The Tuscaloosa News during an interview last year that he can bench press between 240 and 260 pounds and do more than 100 push-ups.

Sharp managed a downtown hotel for many years and served as chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Civil Service Board in the 1970s and 1980s.

He and his wife, Jackie, have lived in the same home in Northport for 50 years. They have three children and six grandchildren.

<p>A retired law enforcement trainer who has been working as a cold case homicide investigator for the last year is the new sheriff of Tuscaloosa County.</p><p>Billy Sharp was appointed to serve the remaining two years of Ted Sexton's term. Sexton began work Monday as director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Sharp, 79, is a life deacon at First Baptist Church, where the governor is an active member. He worked with Bentley's security detail during the 2011 campaign.</p><p>Bentley will continue to consider other candidates for the job, but Sharp could serve until the public elects a new sheriff in fall 2014.</p><p>“He is serving at the pleasure of the governor, he may well hold the position for the rest of the term,” said Jeremy King, Bentley's communications director. “The governor is taking the time that's needed now to review candidates and will move forward from there.” </p><p>Sharp would have to resign before Bentley could appoint someone else.</p><p>Bentley's office issued a press release announcing the appointment Monday.</p><p>“Billy Sharp has a tremendous amount of experience in the field of law enforcement,” Bentley stated in the release. “Because of that, he has the respect of his colleagues, from cadets to veteran officers. Having been an investigator, field agent and eventually a volunteer instructor, Sharp's background in law enforcement will be a great asset to the people of Tuscaloosa County.”</p><p>Sharp replaces Sexton, who was first elected in 1990 and announced his departure earlier this month. </p><p>He is a familiar face at the Sheriff's Office. Sharp has investigated cold cases with the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit since his retirement from the Alabama Criminal Justice Center in February 2012. He worked as an investigator, a chief investigator and field agent during his 28 years there.</p><p>He was a volunteer instructor with the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission for 33 years and trained just about every law enforcement officer who serves in this area. He served in the infantry and Military Police Corps of the U.S. Army during the Korean War.</p><p>Working with the state's Criminal Justice Center, Sharp was in charge of the FBI's National Crime Information Center system and state databases, traveling to other counties and helping law enforcement agents who needed access to the databases containing investigative information, such as names of fugitives and stolen property.</p><p>Sharp was popular with the law enforcement trainees and emphasized the importance of physical fitness during the courses he taught. He told The Tuscaloosa News during an interview last year that he can bench press between 240 and 260 pounds and do more than 100 push-ups.</p><p>Sharp managed a downtown hotel for many years and served as chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Civil Service Board in the 1970s and 1980s.</p><p>He and his wife, Jackie, have lived in the same home in Northport for 50 years. They have three children and six grandchildren.</p>